Rabbi Alon C Ferency

Imagine standing before a mirror, noticing the layers you've worn like masks: the roles you play, the armor you don to meet expectations, and the ways you shape yourself for acceptance. These masks can protect and empower, but they can also hide parts of our true selves. In the spirit of Halloween, let’s reflect on the masks we choose and those that have become so familiar we forget they're there.  Gently ask yourself, "What do I hide, and why?" Let this question float, bringing awareness to the parts of you yearning for freedom. Breathe deeply, embracing the vulnerable self beneath the masks—the one that is flawed, complex, and deeply real. What if you allowed even a glimpse of that self to be seen? Imagine peeling back a layer, even for a moment, and meeting the world with a more authentic face. This, too, is courage: showing up whole, mask and all.